Today's Features

Editor’s note – Starting today and on upcoming Fridays, The Lancaster News will publish the winning essays from “The Veteran in Your Life” essay contest sponsored by the Lancaster County Veterans Affairs Office as part National County Government Month. The theme is “Serving Our Veterans, Armed Forces and Their Families.” Four winners (elementary school, middle school, high school and grand prize) will be selected and announced throughout the month.     

Now, there are some holidays I just don’t understand.                    There’s National Dress Up Your Pet Day, which was Jan. 14. April 16 is International Juggler’s Day, which will probably have comedian Chris Bliss showing off to a Beatles song.

What about Sept. 29, which has been designated as Poisoned Blackberries Day? Supposedly it dates back to the 1700s when blackberries caused more deaths than any other fruit. OK. 

Crouched down beside a brown and white speckled pit bull, Erica Jeffrey tilts her head and starts talking to the dog like they’re old friends.

At a glance, the 11-year-old South Charlotte girl may seem like just another visitor to the Lancaster County Animal Shelter, but on March 24 she was there on a mission. 

While other girls her age ask for clothes or CDs for their birthday, Erica decided to forgo presents and asked for items to help some of Lancaster County’s four-legged friends. 

There are millions of meatloaf recipes, including the fool-proof one your grandma came up with years ago.

Regardless of ingredients, two factors make meatloaf the ideal comfort food.

First, it’s quite economical and can feed a family of six for less than $10. 

According to Chris Kimball, editor and chief of “Cook’s Illustrated” and host of “America’s Test Kitchen,” hard times have made meatloaf an economical,  low-cost chic dish to serve at dinner parties.